Council holds talks on plans for Derby museums

Derby City Council is holding a day of public talks about the future of museum services in the city.

In November, the authority approved plans to mothball the Silk Mill for two years to free up about £400,000 to reinvest in the city's museums.

It also wants to create a charitable trust to run the museum buildings and said it would work with the University of Derby to refurbish the Silk Mill.

The talks are taking place at Derby Museum and Art Gallery on Monday.

They will cover plans for the Silk Mill, Derby Museum and Art Gallery and Pickford's House, as well as a proposed new organisation to run the mueums service.

The Silk Mill is due to be mothballed in March or April 2011.

The council needs to find savings of about 14% next year as part of the government's spending review.

Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture, Councillor Alan Grimadell, said: "We are facing a period of unprecedented pressures in local authorities, and it is essential that we grasp new ways to realise the potential of this city's world class heritage."